hotdog

1 of 3

verb

hot·​dog ˈhät-ˌdȯg 

hotdogged; hotdogging; hotdogs

intransitive verb

: to perform in a conspicuous or often ostentatious manner

especially : to perform fancy stunts and maneuvers (as while surfing or skiing)

hotdogger

ˈhät-ˌdȯ-gər 

noun

hot dog

2 of 3

noun

ˈhät-ˌdȯg 

1

: frankfurter

especially : a frankfurter with a typically mild flavor that is heated and usually served in a long split roll

2

[perhaps from hot dog entry 2] : one that hotdogs

also : show-off

hot dog

3 of 3

interjection

ˈhät-ˈdȯg 

—used to express approval or gratification

Did you know?

Why Hotdog Is More Than a Food

The verb hotdog first appeared in the latter half of the 20th century, and it was adopted from the use of the noun hot dog for someone who is very good at something. The noun was popularized around the turn of the 19th century along with the interjection hot dog to express approval or gratification. In time, the noun became mainly associated with people who showed off their skills in sports, from basketball to skiing, and the verb form came to be used for the spectacular acts of these show-offs. (As a side tidbit to chew on, the word for the frankfurter that might be eaten while watching athletes perform was also on the menu in the late 19th century.)

Synonyms of hotdog

Verb

• cut up
• horse around
• show off
• clown (around)
• showboat
• fool around
• monkey (around)
• act up

Interjection

• ha
• hey

Examples of hotdog in a Sentence

Verb

His opponents have accused him of hotdogging after he scores a touchdown.

a skier who couldn't resist the urge to hotdog on the slopes whenever he wanted to impress a girl

Noun

The other players on the team don't like him because he's such a hot dog.

Interjection

“Hot dog!” the child cried, “We're going to the circus!”

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Send any news, comments, Meta predictions, or Costco hotdogs to [e-mail]. —Francisco Velasquez, Quartz, 3 Feb. 2025

Noun

Aside from its famous burgers, the Nite Owl also serves hot dogs, french fries, onion rings, a fish sandwich, ice cream, floats and sundaes. —Rachel Bernhard, jsonline.com, 6 Mar. 2026

Deep in the woods in the Upper Peninsula near Paradise, a local woman offers up hot dogs with a friendly smile and tongue-in-cheek humor to snowmobilers needing respite. —Free Press Staff, Freep.com, 5 Mar. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

hot dog entry 2

First Known Use

Verb

1963, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1884, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Interjection

circa 1906, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for hotdog

• agog
• backlog
• bulldog
• bullfrog
• eclogue
• eggnog
• groundhog
• hedgehog
• leapfrog
• prolog
• sheepdog
• watchdog

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Kids Definition

hot dog

noun

ˈhät-ˌdȯg

: frankfurter

especially : a cooked frankfurter served in a long split roll